The violent death of Thohoyandou businessman Imtiyaz Faruk Motala has sent shockwaves through the closely knit Indian community.
Motala (35) of Thohoyandou Block F, who traded in furniture at several shops, was killed when armed robbers ambushed him at the gate of his home on Monday evening around 21:00.
According to a report, Motala had been home with his family when his manager arrived to deliver cash. Upon receiving the money parcel from his manager, he was allegedly confronted by two men who ambushed him and shot him. He died at the scene.
It is also alleged that accomplices of the robbers were waiting for the others in a white BMW close to Mr Motala’s home. Some of them then abducted the manager and forced him to lie on the floor of his car, a Toyota Venture.
They then drove to Tswinga, where the manager was forced to hide in the bushes with the instruction not to come out until the robbers were gone. The men also allegedly told him that they were going to Gauteng.
Motala’s death and the armed robbery is one of numerous incidents reported against the Indian community in the Thohoyandou area. Indian community leader Mr Ayub Madina said violent armed robberies had reached alarming proportions in the area, with at least 10 cases of armed robbery reported in the area. “We are living in fear. On the other hand, we have people masquerading as police robbing us at our homes and those who lay in ambush at our homes. On Monday evening, one of our brothers was killed and more than R200 000 was taken away during the shooting. We are now at the mercy of thugs,” he said.
Thohoyandou police spokesperson Const Avhafarei Tshiovhe confirmed the shooting and the subsequent robbery. “We can confirm the incident and have opened murder and armed robbery cases. As of now, no one has been arrested in connection with the incident and investigations are ongoing,” she said.
* Mr Bhavesh Desai (43), of Wylliespoort Trading Store (Desai Cash and Carry), was shot by unknown gunmen near his shop in Wylliespoort. Both the businessmen were buried in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) on Tuesday afternoon.
